"It is, after all, mostly little, common things that make up our lives."
--Elisabeth Elliot

Friday, January 2, 2009

101 tasks for the betterment of me in 1001 days...

The Mission:Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.The Criteria:Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part). Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.Some common goal setting tips:1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it. 2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Why I am doing it--To better myself. I thrive on lists so why not have a list of things that I want to do that will better myself, my life and my surroundings?

Without further ado, here is my list of 101 taskes for the betterment of me in the next 1001 days (to be started on January 1st, 2009 and end on September 29, 2011). I will update this list as things are completed so check back often to see my progress!

Italicized items are in progress, bold items are finished and any related blog posts are linked within the task.

1. Get both of the kids’ scrapbook albums up-to-date.2. Catalog every Christmas tree ornament with the date it was purchased or received and reason for it’s existence.3. Write a hand-written letter to each of the kids on his/her birthday telling them how proud I am and about special memories from that year that I can recall.4. Completely finish my Mother’s Love journal for my kids.5. Sit down and seriously write a will and my wishes upon the ultimate demise ofmyself.6. Make 5 dresses for Teensy that are constructed well enough for her to wear and love.7. Spend a major holiday somewhere other than my hometown or with extended family.8. Take Teensy to a Paint-Your-Own-Pottery place and make a tea set to display and/or use for tea parties.9. Organize and store all hard-copy photos in photo albums or in scrapbooks and all digital photos on DVD’s or CD’s for ease of use.10. Get kids savings accounts up to 300 each. (150/300 Teensy) (183/300 Bubba)11. Get kids they grief counseling they need to deal with their Grandma’s death.12. Spend an entire day with Bubba doing whatever he wants to do.13. Spend an entire day with Teensy doing whatever she wants to do.14. Maintain a chore/help around the house/clean up after yourself routine everyday for a month. Then repeat. (0/31)15. Take the kids to a real amusement park.16. Celebrate all personal holidays with greeting cards for the honoree (birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, births, etc.) for all my family and friends for a complete calendar year. (3/12)17. Establish a regular weekly Date Night complete with babysitter and stick to it for 3 months. (0/12)18. Write a letter to Grandpa K. every month for a year telling him about our lives and asking any questions that I would like answered to fill in the blanks about that side of the family. Include pictures of the kids and hand-written paragraphs from them, as well. (0/12)19. Take a picture of Hubby and I together every single day we are on vacation in Germany.20. Send a proper thank you note or card for every gift received by me or my kids and every other act of kindness that deserves recognition.21. Re-marry my husband on our 10 year Anniversary in Las Vegas.22. Establish a routine “Friends Night Out” to maintain the important friendships in my life. Send a letter/e-mail update if the friend is not available for in person night out.23. Purchase a family membership to the Community Center and use it to spend time swimming with the kids, lifting weights to get in shape and walking the track.24. Take another Girls Time-Out trip with at least one of my friends, take loads of pictures and turn them into a photo book to go with the other one.25. Take dance classes with my hubby.26. Go to lunch with my husband at least 3 times a month for 6 months in a row. (0/18)27. Take a trip to see each of my siblings with the sole purpose of spending time with them.28. Read 101 books and keep a running list of the titles and my reactions to the book itself. (0/101)29. Completely finish one of my already started stories to the point where I am satisfied with it’s completeness.30. Finish the cross-stitch project I started for my mother.31. Buy or rent and watch every single episode of every season of 5 shows that I like. Check out all of the special features of the DVD’s as well.32. Purchase a laptop computer with wireless router.33. Watch 200 movies and keep a list of those I liked and those I didn’t. (3/200)34. Write a letter to biological father and actually mail it.35. Take frame-worthy photos in 10 amazing places and turn them into 10 different works of art. (0/10)36. Learn enough German to have a short conversation and/or get around in Germany when we are there.37. Learn how to create a webpage using HTML code.38. Take a self defense class.39. Cook dinner every weeknight for a month. (0/20)40. Eat at 5 new local restaurants that I have never tried before.41. Apply for a passport.42. Go on a date with myself (sit at Borders and read, see a movie, eat at Perkins).43. Relax and enjoy the trip to Germany without freaking out about the little details. Go slow and really take in the surroundings instead of flying through touristy attractions.44. Blog everyday for 60 days without fluff pieces. (0/60)45. Write 100,000 words of fiction meant for others to read. (0/100,000)46. Fill my phone memory card with music to inspire me.47. Sing in public.48. Donate to 10 different charities within a calendar year to help others in need. Keep track of which charities helped and do a blog entry encouraging others to donate as well. (1/10)49. Sort trash and take it to recycling center every month for 6 months. (0/6)50. Reach and maintain a savings account balance of $2,000 for 6 consecutive months. (0/6)51. Make and maintain regular appointments at the dentist and doctor for both me and the kids.52. Get health insurance for whole family and maintain it.53. Drink daily recommended amount of water every day for two weeks. (0/14)54. Catalog all possessions on a list with receipts for the big things and pictures of each room and buy a fireproof box to put it in for insurance purposes.55. Make a pro/con list about my job and decide if it's worth keeping or if I should be seeking more challenging employment elsewhere.56. Spend two hours or less on the computer doing personal stuff during work hours for two weeks straight. (0/14)57. Finish the quilt that I started on my wedding day.58. Help Bubba to finish the paintings for his bedroom walls.59. Paint the saying and garden on Teensy's walls so she can enjoy it before she grows out of it.60. Write an instruction manual for life for my kids including recipes done my way, life lessons according to me, and all of the little tips that I always call to ask of my mom.61. Take a trip to visit my Grandpa in his home and take everything as it comes without being afraid of the possibilities.62. Explore the area in which I live (the tourist attractions, as well as, the local arts and entertainment possibilities) and bestow that same honor upon my kids.63. Set up a bi-weekly family night where all four of us are home and are actively doing everything together (making dinner, bike ride, playing a game) and maintain it for four months. (0/8)64. Make it a point to call/text/e-mail siblings bi-weekly for six months to keep in touch. (0/12)65. Cook a meal at home every weeknight for a month. (0/20)66. Eat away from home less than four times in a month.67. See a therapist to work through emotional issues I possess.68. Complete a large home improvement project with my husband.69. Take a cooking class.70. Take steps to better my writing style and to pursue my dream of getting it all on paper.

As you can see, this list isn't finished. I have a few more to add and I will do that soon. For today this is all I could come up with!